Clip for securing door jambs



Aug. 3, 1965 J. w. ENNIS CLIP FOR SECURING DOOR JAMES Filed Dec. 17, 1962 FIG. 3

FIG.5

R E m v mu m a e 3 W W M United States Patent 3,197,823 CLIP FOR SECURING DOOR JAMBS James W. Ennis, 1384 Black Bass Cove, Memphis, Tenn.

Filed Dec. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 245,128

1 Claim. (Cl. 20-92) This invention relates to a clip or bracket, particularly adapted to attach a door jamb to a stud. More particularly, this invention relates to that type of clip having a pair of inwardly extending prongs adapted to be urged into the side edges of a door jamb for the attachment thereto and having a pair of spaced tabs or attaching members adapted to be attached to the opposite side edges of a stud, whereby the door jamb and the stud are fixedly interconnected.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved clip of the above mentioned type.

A further object is to provide such a clip in which the distance between the tabs and between the prongs can be changed or adjusted to accommodate various widths of door jambs and studs.

A further object is to provide such a clip having means for making the above mentioned adjustments in equal steps so that the clip may be quickly and easily adjusted to the proper size.

A further object is to provide such a clip which is rigid and strong in structure and is easily attachable to a door jamb and stud.

A further object is to provide such a clip including a pair of members and means telescopically joining said members.

A further object is to provide means for breaking off portions of one of said members to shorten the member when the clip is used with narrower door jams and studs.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

' FIG. 1 is a top view of the clip of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the same, and showing in broken lines a retracted position of the clip.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the same but shown on the opposite side from that of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the clip attached to a door jamb and the stud, and with the section being taken as on a horizontal plane through the middle of the clip and looking downwardly.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken as on the line VV of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the bracket or clip 11 of the present invention comprises a body member 13 which is telescopically constructed and will be described in more detail later in the specification. A pair of spaced and parallel tabs 15, 17 are fixedly and preferably integrally attached to body member 13 adjacent opposite ends thereof and the tabs extend substantially perpendicularly from the body member.

In addition, a pair of prongs 19, 21 are fixedly and preferably integrally attached to body member 13 adjacent opposite ends thereof and extend angularly away from the body member in generally the opposite direction of the extension of tabs 15, 17 from the body member. Prong 19 includes a pointed portion 23 and a connecting portion 25 interconnecting the pointed por: tion and the body member. Pointed portion 23 extends inwardly away from connecting portion 25 at slightly less than a right angle. Prong 19 is preferably formed from the material of tab by making a cut 27 in the 3,197,823 Patented Aug. 3, 1965 shape of the outline of the prong and by bending the material into the shape and position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, which establishes the prong and provides the opening 29 through tab 15.

Prong 21 is preferably formed in a manner similar to prong 19 and, likewise, includes a pointed portion 31 and a connecting portion 33. Also, an opening 35 is provided in tab 17 which corresponds to opening 29.

Body member 13 is preferably formed in two halves or members, that is, a first member 37 and a second member 39. For purposes of clarity, it should be noted that first member 37 is the one to which tab 17 and prong 21 are attached, and second member 39 is the one to which tab 15 and prong 19 are attached. In the actual formation of clip 11, the first member 37 is preferably integrally formed with tab 17 and prong 21 out of the same piece of material, and is preferably formed of a somewhat resilient metal so that prong 21 can be bent inwardly, as will be better understood in the description of the use of clip 11 to follow later in the specification. In a similar manner, second member 39 is preferably integrally formed with tab 15 and prong 19 out of a similar 'piece of metal.

Referring now more specifically to the construction of first member 37, a plurality of pairs of resilient holding members 41 are provided on first member 37. In the drawings, there are two pairs of holding members 41 shown, and in each pair of holding members the members extend inwardly towards one another and have spaced apart distal ends 45. In the actual formation of holding members 41, each pair is formed by making a pair of spaced parallel cuts 47 in the first member 37 and cutting out an intermediate portion between the parallel cuts to establish the individual holding members. Then the material of each holding member 41 is bent away from the surface 49 of the first member 37 and the major portion of the holding member is brought into a parallel spaced position relative to surface 49. In addition, first member 37 is provided with a rib 51, which extends longitudinally of the first member along the middle thereof and which extends outwardly from surface 49. Along opposite sides of rib 51 are provided a plurality of protrusions 53 which are preferably matched in pairs, that is, a protrusion on one side of the rib is preferably matched with a protrusion on the opposite side of the rib, although other arrangements may be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The spacing of the rotrusions 53 on each particular side of rib 51, that is, the distance from the center of one protrusion to the center of the next adjacent one, is preferably equal to the standard size variations of the widths of door jambs and studs. For example, if the standard variations in widths of door jambs and studs is in sixteenths of an inch, then the above mentioned spacing is one-sixteenth of an inch. The importance of this spacing will be understood better in the description of the use of clip 11 to follow later in the specification.

Referring now more specifically to the construction of second member 39, the major portion is narrower in width than first member 37 and is of such a width to fit between each pair of holding members 41, with the surface 55 of the second member in sliding engagement with surface 49 of first member 37 and with holding members 41 slidably engaging the opposite surface 57 of the second member, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5. Thus, it can be seen that first member 37 and second member 39 are telescopically engaged so that the clip may be disposed in an extended position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, or may be moved into retracted positions, one of which is shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. This can be accomplished by moving members 37,

If; 39 to carry the tabs 1.5, 17 inwardly towards one another and at the same time to carry prongs 1%, 21 inwardly towards one another.

A groove 59is provided along the length of second member 39 in the side of the second member defined by surface 55', and the groove is preferably formed as by stamping or urging the metal outwardly out of the plane of the second member. Groove 59 is arranged to mate with rib 51 so that the rib extends into the groove and is slidably lengthwise relative thereto, thus keeping the first and second members 37, 3:; properly aligned. In addition, a plurality of indentations 6]. are provided along the length of groove 59. indentations 61 are arranged to mate with protrusions 53. The indentations 61 are arranged in pairs, which pairs areequally spaced along the length of groove 59 in the same manner as the spacing of protrusions 53, heretofore described, so that the members 37, 39 are arranged to be moved in equal steps relative to one another, with these steps preferably being in sixteenths of an inch, as heretofore explained.

Thus, when protrusions 53 are aligned in indentations .61 to give a particular width between tabs 15, 17,,it will be the proper spacing for a particular width of stud, and when the clip ll is retracted to move the protrusions over one indentation, then the clip will be set up for a stud one-sixteenth of an inch less in width, and so on. By the same token, if the clip 11 is expanded and the protrusions are moved into the next indentation, the clip Will be enlarged by one-sixteenth of an inch. It will be understood that in moving the protrusions 53 into the next indentations 61, as above described, the

surface 55 will move slightly away from surface 49,

but this movement is possible since holdingmembers ll are resilient and will give slightly. Then, when the next indentation is reached, the holding member will urge the second member 39 into close fitting engagement with first member 37. Thus, it will be seen that, once an adjustment has been made, a very rigid clip 11 is provided in which there is no danger of the first member 37 and second member 39 moving relative to each other.

In using the clip 11 of the present invention, before the door jamb, which is indicated as at 63 in the drawings, is put into place in the door opening, not shown, the clip is attached to the door jamb. Before clip 11 is placed on door jamb 63, it will be understood that the clip should 'be adjusted in size, as heretofore described. Initially, the prongs 19, 21 are spread part, as seen in FIG. 1, so that the clip may be placed on the door jamb 63 with body member 13 engaging the outer surface 65 of the door jamb and with prongs 19, 21 spaced from the opposite side edges 67, 69 of the door jarnb. Then, prongs 19, 21 are urged inwardly by a special machine for the purpose or are hammered inwardly into the side edges 67, 6% so that the connecting portions 25, 33 lie against the side edges 67, 65% and the pointed portionsZS, 31 are embedded in the door jamb, as best seen in FIG. 4, thereby firmly attaching the clip 11 to the door jamb. It will be noted in FIG. 4 that the pointed portions 23, 31 extend into the door jamb 63 at an angle so that the door jamb is gripped by the device 11 and there is no danger of the prongs 19, 21 pulling out of the door jamb, as might occur if the pointed portions extended perpendicularly inward. Next, door jamb 63 is brought into place in the usual manner and A plurality of transverse weakened places 62 extend across second member 39 and are formed as by scoring snovgsaa the metal so that, if desired, the end of second member 39 may be bent at one of the places d2 to break the end off and shorten the second member. It will be understood that this is desirable when clip 11 is used with narrow width studs and door jambs, in which cases the clip has to be retracted to such an extent that the end of the second member extends through opening 35 and beyond tab 17.

From the foregoing, it Will be apparent that a very unique clip is provided for interconnecting door jambs and studs. In addition, it will be understood that such a clip is provided which is easily and quickly adjustable and which is sturdy in construction. Also, it will be understood that once the clip has been adjusted, there is little likelihood of any movement of the parts of the clip relative to one another.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: 7

A clip for attaching a door jamb to a stud comprising a body member, a pair of spaced parallel tabs fixedl attached to said body member adjacent opposite ends thereof and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom for engaging the opposite side edges of the stud, said tabs respectively being provided with holes therethrough for receiving nails and the like for attaching said tabs to the stud, a pair of prongs fixedly attached to said body member adjacent opposite ends thereof and extending angularly away from said body member in generally the opposite direction of extension of said tabs from said body member, said prongs respectively including pointed portions adapted to extend into op osite side edges of a door 'jamb and connecting portions interconncctmg said pointed portions and said body member sa1d body member including a first member and a sec ond member, said second member including an elongated groove along the length thereof, said groove being provided with a plurality of spaced indentations along opposite sides of said'groove, said indentations tall extending in the same general direction, one of said tabs and an adjacent one of said prongs being attached to said first member, and the other of said tabs and the other of sa1d prongs being attached to said second member said first member having a rib along the length thereof adapted to be slidably engaged in said groove, said rib having a plurality of spaced and rounded protrusions along opposite sides of said rib with said protrusions all extending in the same general outward direction and adapted to mate with said indentations, said first member being in sliding telescopic engagement both in extending and retracting directions with said second member and with said rib being in sliding engagement with said groove to maintain alignment of said first and second members, at least one of said protrusions being removably engaged in at least one of said'indentations to hold said first and second members in a selected place relative to one another, and at least a pair of resilient holding members attached to said first member 'and'slidably contacting said second member on opposite sides of said groove for urging said second member and said first member together into close fitting engagement with one another when said first and second members are in a selected place relative to one another and for yielding to permit slight movement of the adjacent surfaces of said first and second members away from one another during movement of said first and second members to a different place relative to one another.

(References on following page) V References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Morris 248-65 Sullivan 20-94 Ahlvin 20-92 Stiefel 20-94 Thompson 248-265 Mueller 50-482 Summers 287-58 Hurley 20-9 X Houghton et a1 20-9 Folker 248-265 Appleton et a1. 20-9 X Wilson 20-92 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

EARL J. WITMER, JACOB L. NACKENOFF,

Examiners. 

